HONG KONG (Reuters) - The Chinese film I Am Not Madame Bovary took home three awards at the 11th Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong on Tuesday (March 21), winning Best Film, Best Cinematography and Best Actress for Fan Bingbing.

Fan, who glammed down to play a peasant woman on a years-long mission to get back at a runaway husband and get their fake divorce annulled, said it was her favourite role to date. "Even though playing the role was challenging, I had an unforgettable experience," she told reporters.

She thanked her director, Feng Xiaogang, who turned 59 on Saturday, saying her award would be her birthday gift to him, reported Ming Pao Daily News.

Japan's Tadanobu Asano won Best Actor for his role as a stranger who moves in with a family in the drama Harmonium. South Korea's Na Hong Jin took Best director for the horror film The Wailing.

Hong Kong's Lam Suet won Best Supporting Actor for the crime thriller Trivisa.

The South Korean bodice-ripper The Handmaiden, which had led the competition with six nominations, took Best Supporting Actress for Moon So Ri and Best Newcomer for Kim Tae Ri. Singapore's Fir Rahman had received a Best Newcomer nomination for the prison movie Apprentice.

Cantopop star Sammi Cheng won an Excellence in Asian Cinema award.

Hong Kong director Tsui Hark received a lifetime achievement award, said Ming Pao. He said "lifetime achievement" were huge words and he had a lot to improve on, having been satisfied with few of his films. He gave a shout-out to actor Andy Lau, wishing him an early recovery from his filming accident.